Well-drilling apparatus.



H. B. WALKER.

WELL DRILLING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 26, 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Patented A Patented Aug. 17, 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ANDREW. a cmm 0a., Pnmmumcmmums. v/Asnmsfw. n c.

H. B. WALKER.

WELL DRILLING APPARATUS. APPIIUATION FILED $1111.26, 1909.

931, 101. Patented Aug. 17, 1909.

3 SHEETS-SE33?! 3.

D F 7! l 35 7 www- EUNETED STATJLALPENT OFFICE.

HENRY B. WALKER, OF MOUNT VERNON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO OIL WELL SUPPLYCOMPANY, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

WELL-DRILLING APPARATUS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY B. W'ALKER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Mount Vernon, in the county of Knox and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful lmproven'ients in lVell-DrillingApparatus; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,and exact descrip tion of the invention, such as will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to the construction of pitman and walking beamconnections of well drilling apparatus whereby the walking-beam may bereadily connected with the band-wheel shaft or power shaft when thewalking beam is to be operated, and as readily disconnected therefromwhen it is desired to independently operate the bull wheel, sand-reel,or other element of the organized apparatus.

Well drilling rigs as usually organized, are constituted, broadlystated, of a bandwheel and its shaft driven directly from the engine orpower shaft, a walking beam operated from the crank on the band-wheelshaft by an intermediate pitman, a bull-wheel for reeling the drillrope, a casing-reel for handling the casing, and a sand-reel for reelingthe sand-line, the last named devices also operated either directly orindirectly from the band wheel shaft. As these several elementsconstituting the rig are alternately and sepa-' rately operated from theband wheel shaft, it becomes necessary to provide means fordisconnecting and connecting up the band wheel shaft with each of saidelements. This has been accomplished incase of the standard orstationary rigs, where a single pitman is used, by disconnecting thepitman from the crank of the band wheel shaft, and throwing off the tugrope which drives the bull-wheel from a pulley on the band wheel shaft;the sand reel being driven from the band wheel by means of a frictiondrum on the sand-reel shaft adapted to be moved into and out of contactwith the band-wheel.

In the case 'of drilling rigs having such a construction of walkingbeams as necessitates the use of two pitmen, as sometimes occurs inportable rigs, there has heretofore been no feasible means of readilydetaching the pitman. from either the walking beam or Specification ofLetters Patent.

Application filed January 26, 1909.

Patented Aug. 17, 1909.

Serial No. 474,196.

the cranks of the band wheel shaft, and therefore in such constructionsthe bullwheel, casing-reel and sand reel have been driven from thebandwheel shaft through the ii'itervention of gearing and clutchmechanism, which construction has not in all respects provedsatisfactory so far as the sandreel is concerned.

It has, in practice, been found desirable to locate the sand-reeladjacent to the bandwheel and operate it from the band-wheel by theusual friction drum on the sand-reel shaft. As however, the walking-beammust be at rest when the sand-reel is in operation, this location andoperation of the sand-reel can not be effectively accomplished unless aclutch is interposed between the band-wheel and its shaftwhich isneither desirable nor practical0r the walking-beam be disconnected fromthe band-wheel shaft. The main feature of my invention, therefore,broadly stated, embraces the combination with a walking-beam, a pitman,and a shaftfor actuating the pitman, of a coupling for connecting thepitman and walking-beam, and means for actuating said coupling forreadily and rapidly connecting and disconnecting the walking-beam andpitman. In carrying out this feature of my invention, I prefer toconnect the walking-beam ends of the pitmen by a connecting orcross-rod, and to provide the walking-beam with seats or bearings forsaid rod, and with latches or equivalent means for confining the saidpitmen connecting rod to the walking-beam, and such a constructionembodies a secondary feature of my invention.

A further feature of my invention embraces the provision of means forcontrolling the movement of the pitmen when released from thewalking-beam. In carrying out this feature of my invention, I prefer toemploy links or radius rods extending from the connecting rod of thepitmen to the hinge line of the walking-beam, and such a constructionembodies a minor feature of my invention.

A further feature of my invention embraces the provision of means forretaining the walking-beam out of operative position, and also below itslowest operative position when disconnected from the pitmen. In carryingout this feature of my invention, I

construction embodies another minor feature of my invention.

There are other features of invention 1nvolved in both the elementalconstruction,

and particular combinations of the several elements, all as willhereinafter more fully appear.

In the drawings chosen for the purpose of illustrating my invention, thescope whereof is pointed out in the claims, Figure 1 is a' sideelevation of a drilling-rig frame, and so much of the apparatusas-embodies my i11- vention. Fig. 2 is a detail view in side 'e'levationof the devices embodying my invention. Fig. 3 is a detail end View ofthe devices shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detail top view of the devicesembodying my invention, parts broken out. Fig. 5 is a detail sectionalview of the beam-hook standards for securing the walking-beam, whendisconnected from the band-wheel shaft. Fig. 6 is a detail sectionalview of the devices shown in Fig. 5, taken at right angles to Fig. Fig.7 is a detail side view of one of the latches for confining the pitmencon-' necting rod to the walking-beam and one of the hook-straps forconfining the walkingbcam when disconnected from the pitmen, and, Fig. 8is a detail view of said latch and hook-strap, at right angles to Fig. 7

Like symbols refer to like parts wherever they occur.

1 will now proceed to describe my invention more fully so that othersskilled in the art to which it appertains may apply the same.

The drawings accompanying this specification show only such parts of thewelldrilling rig as pertain to my invention, and their relation to eachother and to the main frame, but it is to be understood that, a derrickwith its crown pulley, a bull-wheel, a casing-wheel, the necessarygearing and clutch mechanism and pulleys, or like adjuncts which go tomake up any form of an organized well drilling rig may and will be usedin conjunction therewith; as for instance as illustrated in the patentto H. S. and C. E. Glenn, #806,886 of December 12, 1905.

In the drawings, A indicates the main frame, which may consist of twolongitudinally disposed beams or girders properly cross braced andconnected to obtain the necessary strength and stiffness. In case of aportable machine said frame A will be supported on suitable wheels (4,a, but in case of a stationary-rig, other suitable means, or a subframesupport may be provided to afford the desired elevation.

B indicates the samson post or upright for affording the pivotal supportof the Walking-beam C. In a portable rig there may be two of theseuprights, one extending up from each sill or side girder A of the mainframe. The walking-beam C is likewise comprised of twin members,properly cross braced or rigidly connected and pivoted at mid-length onthe tops of the samson posts or uprights B, prefe ably by means of across shaft 0, or in other suitable member. The members of thewalking-beam C will also preferably be formed of I beams or girderstapering in both directions from the fulcrum-point.

D indicates the band-wheel having its shaft (Z properly journaled inhearings on the main frame A, said shaft (Z having at its op p'ositeends "crank arms (Z provided with the u:sual series of crank pin holes(Z whereby the l-eng-th of stroke of the walking-beam may be varied.This band-wheel and its shaft is driven by means of the usual. belt froma suitable ipulley on the power shaft actuated by an engine It mountedon the main frame A, or in any other of the well known ways of operatingthe band-wheel of a well-drilling rig.

F indicatesthe shaft of the sand-reel journaled at one end in a fixedournal bearing on the frame A, and at the opposite end in a slidingbearing F, which latter bearing is movable 'to and from the baud-wheelby means of a pivoted lever f and rods f, 7, or in other suitablemanner.

On the sand-reel shaft F adjacent to the movable end thereof is securedav friction dri'un F 2 which can be thrown into and out of contact withthe band-wheel by means of the lever and rods 7, 7, for rotating thesand-reel when desired.

Tothe rear of the friction drum F 2 and secared to the main frame A is abrake-block G against which the friction drum F may be pressed to'arrestthe rotation of the sand reel when :it is thrown out of action.

1 indicates a pitman, of which there are two, pivotally connected withthe crank arms at the opposite ends of the band-wheel shaft (Z, by theusual stirrup and bearings l or in other suitable manner. The oppositeor walking-beam ends of the pitmen 1 are pivotally connected with across-rod, or pituian connecting-rod 2, the ends of said rod beingpreferably passed through eyes on the upper ends of pit-men 1, andsecured by washers 2 and nuts 2 or in other suitable manner. Thiscross-rod, or pit-man connecting-rod? is provided with seats or bearings2 on the upper surface of the walking-beam, and means are provided toconfine the rod to the walking-beam, and to release said rod therefrom,accordingly as the walking beam is to 'beoperated, or remain at rest.Said means for securing and releasing the cross rod 2 of the pitmen, ispreferably in the form of two latches 3, 3 connected by a latch bar t,so as to be simultaneously operated, and by means of said bar alsopivoted on and connected to the twin members of the walking-beam C.

In order to control the movement of the cross-rod 2, and the pitmen,whensaid crossrod is disconnected from the walking-beam, links or radiusrods 5 are provided, said rods preferably having at their ends eyes 5,5" through the former of which the cross-rod 2 passes, and through thelatter of which a Hes the cross shaft 0 constituting the pivot orfulcrum-pin of the walking-beam. In case a cross-shaft c is notemployed, an equivalent center for the attachment of the ends of thelinks or radius rods 5 may be provided. The latches are readilymanipulated, eith 17 to secure or release rod 2, by means of a dependentrod, which in the present instance, and preferably, is in the form of astrap or straps adjustable as to length, so as to conform to the varyingstroke of the pitman, and said straps may be used to secure thewalkingbeam when disconnected from the pitmen. The adjustable straps areeach comprised of two members 6 and (5, one of which, 3, is riveted orotherwise secured to a latch 3, and the other, (5, is provided at itsfree end with a hook ti or equivalent means of engaging a Jeam-hookstandard on the main frame. The adjustment of the straps as to length,which must correspond to the length of stroke of the pitmen, isaccomplished by providing one of said members with a series of slots orbutton holes 6, and the other with hooks or buttons 6 adapted to engagein said slots 6 and bind the two members 6 and ti securely together.

7, 7 indicate beam-hook standards secured to the frame A adjacent to thebearings of y the band-wheel shaft (Z and provided with means for the enagement of the hook 3" of the walking-beam strap.

As it is desirable, not only to secure the walking-beam when releasedfrom the pit men, but also to retain it in such a position that it willnot be struck or hammered by he pitmeil connecting-rod :2 whichcontinues to travel with the pitmen, said means should, preferably, beof a character notonly to hold the walking-beam but also to retain itslightly below its lowest operative position. Although this may beaccomplished manu ally, yet to effect it, I prefer to slot and core outthe beanrhook standard as at '7 and arrange therein a cam 8 whose shaft8' projects from the standard 7 and to employ a yoke 9 having a hook eye9 for the engage ment of the hook (3 of the walking beam strap, wherebywhen the strap engages the yoke and the cam is rotated the walkingbeammay be readily drawn down and held below its lowest operative position.

In order to hold the beam strap 6, 6 out of engagement with the beamhook standard, as well as to hold the latches 3 in locked l position soas to secure the pitmen-connecting rod 2 to the walking-beam, some meansmust be provided, and I prefer to use a single means for both purposes,said means consisting of an arc bar 10 pivoted at one end on thewalking-beam, as at 10, and pi used through a slot 6 on one side of thestrap member 6, said are bar having a projection 10 adapted to engagethe strap (3 and hold the latch 3 in position over the pitmen connectingrod 2, and the hook 6 of the strap outof engagement with the yoke 9 ofthe beam hook standard 7.

The construction being substantially such as hereinbefore pointed out,the operation of the devices will be as follows: On reference to Fig. 2of the drawing it will be noted that the latches 3 are thrown back so asto release the pitmen-connecting rod 2 from the walking beam, the beamstraps 6, 6 have been made to engage the yoke 9 of the beamhook standardand the walkingbeam is held at rest, while, as indicated by dottedlines, the pitmen 1, l, and pitmen connectingrod 2 continue theirmovement with the cranks of the band-Wheel shaft, being guided by thelinks or radius rods 5, At this time the sandreel may be operated fromthe bandwheel by so manipulating the rods F, f and lever f as to movethe sliding bearing l of the sand-reel shaft F toward the bandwheelshaft (Z, which will bring the friction drum F of the sand-reel incontact with the band-wheel. D and thus rotate the sand-reel directlyfrom the band-wheel. A reverse movement of the rods f 7" and lever willwithdraw the friction drum F from contact with the band-wheel D, and thewalkingbeam may then be coupled to the pitmen 1, l by releasing the beamstraps (3, (3 from the beam-hook standard and pushing said straps backso to bring the latches 3, 8 forward over the pitmen connectingrod 2 toconfine the same to its seats 2 on the upper surface of the walking-beamC. lVhen the straps 6, (i have been pushed back to bring the latches 3,3 over the PitlTlQll connecting rod 2, the catch projection 1O on arebar 10 will engage one of the straps G, G and not only hold it out ofengagement with the standard 7 but also hold the latches 3, 3 inposition to lock the pitmen to the walking-beam.

From the foregoing description it will be noted that the pitmen can bereadily aml quickly uncoupled from the walking-beam, and thewalking-beam brought to a state of rest, by a simple movement of thependent straps (3, 6, or their equivalent, and thereafter thewalking-beam may be released and again coupled to the pitmen by a simplereverse movement of said straps 6, 6 and that this ability to so readilyand rapidly couple and uncouple the pitmen and walking-beam renders itperfectly practicable to locate the sand-reel adjacent to and operate itfrom the band-wheel through the .medium of a friction drum on thesa11dreel shaft.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

1. In a well drilling rig, the combination of a walking-beam, a pitman,a shaft for actuating the pitman, a coupling for connecting the pitmanand walking beam, and means for actuating said coupling to connect anddisconnect the pitman and walking beam.

2. In a well drilling-rig, the combination with a walking-beam and apitman for actuating the walkingbeam, of a pivoted member mounted on oneof the first two named members and rotatable into and out of connectionwith the other of said first two named members to connect and disconnectsaid walking beam and pitman.

3. In a welldrilling rig, the combination of a walking-beam, a pitman, acast-off coupling for the walking-beam and pitman, and a link forcontrolling the movement of the pitman when released from the walkingbeam.

4. In a well-drilling rig, the combination of a walking-beam, a pitman,a pivoted latch to connect the pitman to the walkingbeam, means forcontrolling the movement of the pitman when disconnected from thewalking beam, and means for retaining the walking beam out of operativeposition.

5. In a well-drilling rig, the combination of a walking-beam and pitman,a coupling therefor, means for controlling the movement of the pitmanwhen disconnected from the walking-beam, means for retaining the walkingbeam out of operative position when released from the pitman, andmechanism operating on the strap whereby the walkingbeam may be causedto assume a position below its lowest operative position.

6. In a well-drilling rig, the combination of a walking-beam, a pitman,a latch adapted to connect the walking-beam and pitman, and a strap toactuate the latch and to retain the walking-beam out of operativeposition.

7. In a well-drilling rig, the combination of a walking-beam, a pitman,a latch for coupling the walking-beam and pitman, a strap for actuatingthe latch and for retaining the walking-beam out of operative position,and means for confining the strap to maintain the connection between thewalking-beam and pitman.

8. In awell-drilling rig, the combination with a walking-beam, ofpitmen, a rod for connecting the pitmen, and pivoted latches forconnecting the rod to the walking beam.

9. In a well-drilling rig, the combination with a walking-beam ofpitmen, a rod for the connecting-rod to the walking-beam, and links forcontrolling the movement of the connecting-rod and pitmen when releasedfrom the walking-beam. I

10. In a well-drilling rig, the combination with the walking-beam, ofpitmen, a .rod for connecting the pitmen, latches for connecting the rodwith the walkingbeam, straps for retaining the walking-beam out ofoperative position when released by the latches, and a cam and yoke foracting on the straps to cause the walking-beam to assume and maintain aposition below its lowest operative position.

11. In a well-drilling rig, the combination with a walking-beam, apitman, a cast-off coupling for connecting the walking-beam and pitman,'a guide link for controlling the movement of the pitman whendisconnected from the walking-beam, a strap for actuating the couplingand retaining the walkingbeam out of operative position when releasedfrom the pitman, and a cam and yoke for operating the strap to cause thewalkingbeam to assume a position below its lowest operative position.

12. In a well-drilling rig, the combination with a walking-beam, andpitman and a castoff coupling therefor, of a strap to retain-thewalking-beam out of operative position when released from the pitman,said strap being adjustable as to length to provide for varying strokesof the pitman.

18. The combination of a walking beam, a pitman, a shaft for actuatingthe pitman, a coupling for connecting and disconnecting the pitmanandwalking beam, and means for controlling the movement of the pitman whendisconnected from the walking-beam.

In testimony whereof I 'affixmy signature, in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

HENRY B. IVALKER.

Vitn esses A. G. Hnoomt, W. V. Anmmson.

connecting the pitmen, latches for securing w

